Video: The creepy “we know where you live” tax amnesty ad

posted at 3:35 pm on May 3, 2010 by Ed Morrissey

I’m a little torn on this ad. I don’t find it odd that the tax man knows where people live, or even their tax status. One would have assumed for decades that the government on every level keeps a close eye on those issues. On the other hand, with narration straight out of Eagle Eye, this ad doesn’t exactly seem like a friendly invitation to take advantage of a tax amnesty that forgives all of the penalties and half of the accrued interest. But hey, the computer in Eagle Eye was friendly enough, too, wasn’t it? Er …

Daily Dis’ Yoda-like verdict: “Sounds good, this ad does not.” Maybe not, but delinquent taxpayers probably won’t get a better deal — and this one only lasts until June 18th. Perhaps Pennsylvania would get a better response if they didn’t make compliance sound so ominous. They can take some comfort in knowing that the state wouldn’t have had to enact a tax amnesty if they really did have this kind of power. Julianne Moore, call Harrisburg when you get the chance …

Off topic…notice now how Drudge has many more up to date reports…Hot Air is starting to falter and lag behind, here are just a few that Hot Air would normally be right on top of:
UN Climate Chief: Kyoto Protocol in Jeopardy…
Obama administration cancels offshore SAFETY awards; BP a finalist…
MOVE OVER, BANKERS: BIG PAYDAYS FOR CHIEFS OF TOP MEDIA COMPANIES…
3 more states want federal Guard mobilization…
Man, what is happening…more concerned about advertising?

So imagine you sit down for dinner watching Fox News and the 30 second cable ad targets you for being late on your mortgage, electric bill, water bill, license renewal, insurance coverage, smoking in the garage, taking a leak in the flower bed or sneaking home from a night on the town.

Since the government seems to like this approach, maybe they can slightly modify it. . . .”Your name is Jose. You live in a garage in the back of 1451 Dominquez Street in Modesto. You haven’t paid any taxes for the last ten years, and owe us $34,000. Nice pickup truck and flat screen TV you have there, Jose. We know just where you live, and we know how to get what’s ours. . . . .

The problem is not that the taxman knows where we live, or how much we owe – my guess is that most/all of that info is public knowledge to anyone motivated enough to go and get it. And of course Google Maps is free.

The problem is that the people at the tax office would:

– Engage an agency to pitch them a few ideas

– Approve THIS one in the “paper” stage

– Approve it AFTER it had produced as a video

…and that it would have gotten approval from several people, at (presumably) higher and higher levels, until final signoff.

The problem is that anyone in government would believe that this an appropriate way for them to even THINK about citizens, much less TALK this way to them.

This is the kind of crap that made the Founding Fathers decide to start shooting.

Exactly; if they REALLY knew where we lived and how much we REALLY owed THEN we would have a real problem. (and they wouldn’t have to run this ad! :> )

If they know someone owed money AND they know where they live then WHY HAVEN’T THEY SENT THEM A BILL? (or a SWAT team)

Dirty little secret folks: (though not TOO secret) just like in criminal law enforcement, the majority of cases are solved through the input of anonymous sources (tip lines) or through government coerced informers (previous miscreants looking to reduce THEIR penalties).

The IRS relies a lot on document matching but with trillions of documents and limited processor speed, time and access, there’s a lot that gets left out or doesn’t go into the mix. They do however take tips from state and local governments (and they return the favor. Run afoul of one and the others will be close behind looking for their cut.)

Why do you think so many folks in government don’t pay all of their taxes? Because they know the odds of getting caught and the cost is reasonable for the payoff.

Remember Leona ‘only the little people pay taxes’ Helmsley? She knew what she was talking about; only the schmucks play the game honestly.

“Dirty little secret folks: (though not TOO secret) just like in criminal law enforcement, the majority of cases are solved through the input of anonymous sources (tip lines) or through government coerced informers (previous miscreants looking to reduce THEIR penalties).”

Dude! I’m waiting for the scud missiles to fly on in at the end. That just made my skin crawl. Isn’t that the exact opposite of the image they would want to be sending out?

Shouldn’t it be like: “We’re Pennsylvania! We tend to your children when they’re at school. We maintain your scenic parks and beautiful neighborhoods. And we can’t do it without you . . .” Seriously . . . calling Dr. Freud.

Well being as how Tom owes me that money and my family never dodged taxes in any generation, I am not sure what the tax dodging punks are driving at. It’s funny the same people that are proud of spilling young american blood for liberty don’t want to pay for a damn thing.
Yeah, you trying to screw over my country?
Pay up or get the hell out.

PA is so broke they have resorted to these creepy Big- Brother-is-watching-you ads in order to scare state residents into paying up. What not to do during the current political environment. This had to be Fast Eddie’s idea.

Fast Edie has depleted every source of income there is for PA. We used to have a rainy day fun. It’s gone. Last year they had to take out loans and IOU’s to pay state employees. I spoke with a State Rep and he said we are probably about two years behind California. All Randell can do is spend, raise taxes and expand gambling. Gambling is suppose to be the cure all for everything here in PA. What a joke.

There’s a lot wrong with it since Tiny Tim TurboTax is in charge. It’s now arbitrary gubmint action and therefore evil.

platypus on May 3, 2010 at 4:25 PM

Well, yeah.

If we are to have an organized society with our Constitutional freedoms protected from those who would see us harmed, national security with a military to back it up, etc., it would be a bit difficult without tax of some sort. Having said that, having a dishonest spewer of lies and ten-dollar words as SecTreas and therefore top enforcer at IRS is wholly unacceptable.

This unbelievable arrogance has already become ‘par for the course’ for this administration, and the worst part is that they are getting by with the most blatantly dishonest government since ever, thanks to the sycophants in the media.

Wonder who hurts the Federal and state treasuries the most…waitresses not reporting tips and house painters getting paid under the table…or big shots like Geitner who make a hell of a lot more money and cheat on their taxes?

Also, waitresses and house painters can’t increase the deficit nor increase our taxes so I think the moral equivalency thing is pretty much shot there.

The whole thing is about sponging off of millions-a buck here, a buck there-so these punks can get rich. Such a scam, but yet it’s OK with the Libtards because these clowns promise social justice and promise to heavily tax the really rich people and (too many)Conservatives are actually OK with having their incomes taxed (I guess to provide for all the social services and gov’t programs they don’t believe in?).